USD 402 scores ‘Standard of Excellence’ from state

Augusta Board of Education members are proud of local students, staff and administrators.

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By Belinda Larsen

Butler County Times Gazette

By Belinda Larsen

Posted Oct. 11, 2012 at 7:15 AM

By Belinda Larsen

Posted Oct. 11, 2012 at 7:15 AM

Augusta

Augusta Board of Education members are proud of local students, staff and administrators. All were recognized at Monday’s regular monthly board meeting for achieving Kansas Standard of Excellence Awards.

Standard of Excellence is based on Kansas state assessment data. For a school to receive Standard of Excellence, a certain percentage of students must score exemplary on the assessments and only a small percentage of students be placed on academic warning. The percentages vary by grade level.

Garfield Elementary received awards in Reading for grades 4, 5, and building-wide; Math in grades 4, 5, and building-wide; and building-wide for Science.

Ewalt Elementary received awards in Reading for grades 4, 5, and building-wide; Math in grade 5, and building-wide for Science.

“Congratulations everyone. This an achievement you and your staff should be very proud of,” BOE Vice President Larry Winter said.

ACT scores

At the September BOE meeting, board members were told that high school students do not perform as well on the ACT assessments as compared to the state assessments. As the district moves forward with the transition to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) instruction will occur to ensure the students are better equipped with the needed skills to perform at higher levels of both the CCSS and ACT.

The 2012 ACT scores were lower, but fewer students are taking the ACT.

AHS has more students graduating and attending Butler Community College compared to other higher education institutions and students who attend BCC can enroll by completing ASSET instead of the ACT. The ASSET cost less and is less imposing.

Another reason given for the lower ACT scores is that the district has placed an emphasis on achievement based on the State Assessments -- and AHS students are obviously doing very well on the State Assessments, evidenced by the Standard of Excellence Awards.

Staff and administrators will continue to work toward improved ACT results.

AHS Principal Donna Zerr stated, “Changes will need to occur with instruction to ensure that USD 402 high school students are better equipped with the necessary skills to perform at higher levels of proficiency on CCSS/ACT.”